Share your views on heritage strategy

Christchurch City Council is seeking public feedback on a strategy aimed at celebrating and protecting one of Christchurch and Banks Peninsula’s most vital assets – its rich and often hidden heritage.

The draft Heritage Strategy 2019–2029 seeks public comment on how the Council, in partnership with Ngāi Tahu, will protect and celebrate heritage in the community – whatever form it may take.

The heritage tram travels down High Street. Photo: Boyd Barber

Consultation opens today and will close on Monday 12 November.

“For a lot of people, when you mention the word heritage, it brings to mind a very narrow idea of what that is – an old building or an artefact in a museum,” says Deputy Mayor Andrew Turner.

“A major part of the Heritage Strategy is broadening our understanding of heritage so that it covers lots of intangible things that people don’t necessarily consider to actually be heritage, in the traditional sense, but are just as important to how we understand life in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula in the 21st century.

“If we set out on paper what heritage can be, we can start to appreciate and value the hidden parts – stories, waiata, sounds, smells and more,” Cr Turner says.

The draft strategy outlines four distinct goals, along with steps to achieve them:

Our Heritage, Our Taonga is accessible to all and shared and celebrated.

• Our Heritage, Our Taonga from Christchurch and Banks Peninsula’s six papatipu rūnanga is acknowledged with respect to their mana whenua and in accordance with their values and culture.
• Our Heritage, Our Taonga includes and respects all the cultures and distinct communities of the district.
• Our Heritage, Our Taonga is protected through collaboration and partnership.

Cr Turner says the Council will look to build sustainable relationships and collaborative ways to promote and achieve the new vision.

“The rich history of Christchurch and Banks Peninsula is a major asset that that’s unique to us. By valuing and connecting with our taonga, we can create a vital foundation for a vibrant and sustainable 21st century city.

“The places, memories and stories of all our cultures are treasures to be shared, celebrated and passed on to future generations – and this strategy will encourage us to do this together. Feeding back to this consultation is the best way for people to tell us what part they want to play.”

The Council is seeking feedback from the community via drop-in sessions, online engagement through Have Your Say and Facebook, and discussions with the six papatipu rūnanga. A hearings panel will hear submissions on the draft strategy in December 2018.

Once the strategy has been finalised and adopted, it will be rolled out in 2019, following an implementation plan developed in collaboration with the community.

Residents can visit Have Your Say to read the draft strategy and give feedback.

Council staff will also host drop-in sessions.